Lubricant-dispensing apparatus



Feb. 28, 1950 R. J. GRAY 2,499,061

LUBRICANT-DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 20, 1945 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 28, 1950 R. J. GRAY 2,499,051

LUBRICANT-DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 20, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

R. J. GRAY I LUBRICANT-DISPENSING APPARATUS Feb. 2 8, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 20, 1945- Feb. 28, R A

LUBRICANT-DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 20, 1945 I 6 SheetsSheet 4 Feb. 28, 1950 R, J, R 2,499,061

LUBRICANT-DISPENSING APPARATUS I Q 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 20, 1945 l atented Feb. 28, 1950 Russell J. Gray, jExcelsior, Minn,

mesne assignments, to Gray Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of sota assignor, by Inc'.,

e an

Application October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,591

.The present invention relates pensing apparatus, and it relates more particularly to self-contained. lubricant-dispensing devices which include, as a permanent part of such apparatus, a relatively large lubricant reservoir or storage-compartment, into which a substantial quantity of lubricant (25, 40 or 50 pounds, more or less) may be placed from time to time,

from any original container or from any other;

source, and from which reservoir or storagecompartment the lubricant may be dispensed manually, as, for instance, by a manually-opera ated pump.

Some of the principal objects of thepresent invention are to provide a lubricant dispenser of such construction that itmay be manufactured inexpensively, yet durably, and whichwill be of greater utility in actual use or service, and more convenient to handle not only from the standpoint of dispensing the grease but from the standpoint of loading the grease or lubricant into the dispenser and from the standpoint of .keeping the lubricant free of dust and dirt which tend to. collect on lubricating apparatus when in actual use in the field.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the follow; ing description and accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in whichlike reference characters indicate like parts,

- Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofv a lubricant-dispenser representing an embodiment of the present invention (with the hose and discharge-nozzle omitted).

- Figure 2 represents a section on line 2.2 .of Figure 1. a

Figure 3 represents a cross-sectionalview, on line 3-3of Figure 2 on a somewhat larger scale.

Figure 4 represents a rear elevational ,view of the dispenser of Figures 1, 2 and 3, viewed-along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 represents a cross-sectional view of the pump-head of the dispenser of Figures 1, 3 and 4, taken on line 5-5 of Figures 3 and (i.

Figure 6 represents a cross-sectional view on line 96 of Figure 5.

Figure 7. represents a perspective view of the dispenser oil/Figures 1 to -6, with the lid raised and turned into the position in which, the lubri: cant may be placed in the dispenser.

Figure 8 represents a verticalcross-sectional view of another form of construction embodying another phase of the present invention, taken on line 8- 8 of Figure 9. H

Figure 9 represents a rear-elevational View of to lubricant-dis;

5 Claims. (01. 222-385) the form of,.construction shown in Figure 8,

with the outer housing partly broken away, so; as

' to expose to view the interior thereof.

Figure 10 represents a cross-sectional view on"; line Ill-Ill of Figure 9. For the purposes of illustrating the present l nvention, there are shown, in the accompanying. drawings, exemplifying forms thereof, although it is to be understood that thevarious instrumentalities of which the several forms, embodiments, I

phases and extensions of the present invention consists, c-an be variously arranged and organized and that the present invention is not limited. to the-precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described. Y

In one phase of the present invention illus-. tratedin Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, the lubricant- 1 dispenser comprises a generally upright cylin-. drical sheet-metal housing or container I, having a sump-like bottom 2; the outer flanged pe riphery -3 of the bottom 2 being united with the cylindrical sheet-metal side-wall by a bead 4', or being otherwise secured thereto, as, for instance, by spot-welding the outer'flange of the bottom member 2 to the cylindrical portion of the side-. wall of the container I, a substantial distance above the lower edge 5 of the cylindrical body l; the lower edge 5 being telescoped over a corresponding raised cylindrical portion or boss -'6 which is preferabli pressed out of a sheet-metal base member I, provided with an offset foot-rest 8. The one piece bottom 2 strengthens the entire container and automatically feeds all the lubricant to the lower end of the pump to be described.

Within the cylindrical body I, a transverse sheet-metal strap or yoke 9' is provided,.with 'op positely turned or flanged ends I0 welded to'tlie side-wall of the container, as best shownin Figure 10, and having at its center a pair of parallel, longitudinal'slits I l cut therein, and portionfl'l between-said slits being pressed in one direction while the flanking, portions l3 [above and below said slits are pressed in the opposite direction, so as to provide a vertical support in which the lid clamping bolt stud I4 is fastened by spot-welding, arc-welding or" otherwise to extend vertically and centrally of thebodyl. T f

Similar slits l5 may also be cut into the band or yoke 9, but off centenandthe portion I6 be tween slits l5 is pressed in one direction and the flanking portions". are pressed in the opposite direction, so as to provide a slightly inclined up right passageway or guide for the reception of the stationary, tubular pump-cylinder or risertube l8, which is so disposed that it may slide up and down within the guide, as the pump-supporting cover or lid 19 is raised and lowered, from time to time, for the insertion or loading of grease or lubricant into the container l, and. so as to permit the pump-supporting cover or lid 19 to be raised and turned into the position shown in Figure 7.

The upper end of the pump-cylinder or pumpriser [8 may be screw-threadedly or otherwise fastened to the pump-head 2], which, in turn, may be permanently aflixed to the lid or upper closure 19, as, for instance, by having its lower end turned down slightly to a somewhat smaller diameter as at 22 (Figure 3) and fitted into a hole.

23 within the lid, and then welded in place, as at 24.

A piston-rod 25 of a diameter substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the pumpcylinder or riser-tube I8 is disposed therein and extends through the end of'the pump-head 2|, and through the stuffing-box portion 26 and the stuffing-gland 21, and through the packing 28 compressed between the two, so as to provide a pressure-seal around the upper end of the pumprod or piston-rod 25.

A discharge outlet at 29 (Figures and 6) extends through the side of the pump-head 2|, into which a high-pressure discharge-hose 16 may be screw-threadedly or otherwise fastened; the free end of which hose, in turn, carries any suitable quick-attachable and quick-detachable coupler for making temporary fluid-tight connection with any type of lubricant-receiving nipple or fitting on the bearing of the machine to be lubricated such as, for instance, the so-called hydraulic coupler of the multi-jawed chuck type, or the bayonet type coupler or the button-head type coupler or the like, or which may carry a plain discharge-nozzle or a non-drip dischargenozzle or a manually-operable discharge-valve, nozzle or booster or the like.

Arelief and return port 39 is also provided, with a return passageway 3| extending downwardly therefrom, back into the container 1, with a screw-retained and screw-operable needle-valve 32 normally closing the port 30; which needlevalve may be opened whenever it is desired to relieve the hose-line of its grease content or to relieve the hose-line of its pressure or to permit the lowering of the pump-handle and pump-piston without expelling grease from the hose-line.

To the lower end of the cylinder (or riser) 18, a foot-valve housing 34 (Figure 3) is screwthreadedly or otherwise secured, having a central inlet 35, and having a gravity-seated ball check-valve 36 (or other suitable check-valve) resting against the intake valve-seat 31 thereof.

To the lower end of the piston-rod 25 a hollow piston 38 is screw-threadedly or otherwise secured, in fluid-sealing engagement'with the inner bore of the cylinder '8, and within this hollow piston a gravity-seated (or other suitable) checkvalve 39 is disposed, adapted to seat against the valve-seat 40, on the intake stroke of the pump. One or more slots or other passageways 4|, are provided in the sides of the lower end of the piston rod 25, across and'beyond that portion thereof which is overlapped by the hollow piston 38, so that the grease or lubricant which passes through the inlet opening 42 of the hollow piston and passes by the ball check-valve 39 thereof (on the compression stroke) may pass into the space 43 between the piston rod 25 and the inner bore of the cylinder [8.

The upper end of the cylinder 18, and indeed, the pump-head 2| are so disposed in relation to the center of the lid l9, and in relation to the cylinder-supporting portions I6 and l! of the yoke 9, that the cylinder IE will be disposed at such an angle as brings that foot-valve housing 34 to the center and into proximity of the bottom of the sump-like bottom 2 of the container.

' The lid I9 is provided with a downwardly depending fiange 44, which telescopes over the upper end 45 of the cylindrical container, and to which flange 44 a link-anchorage member 46 is secured by spot welding or otherwise.

To the link-anchorage 49, a link 41 of generally U-shaped cross section is pivotally secured by means of the pivot pin 48. To the upper end of the link 41, the manually-operable (or otherwise operable) lever-arm 49 is pivotaily secured by means of the pivot-pin 50. The lever-arm 49 is preferably made of sheet-metal, and formed into a more or less tubular formation in the handle portion 5i thereof, and in a generally inverted U- shaped cross-section in the pivot portion 52 thereof; in the sides of which U-shaped portion, flat, elongated panel-like portions 53 (Figure 3) are pressed inwardly, to a distance from each other substantially equal to the diameter of the pump-rod 2'5, and within these two fiat panels 53, three alternate sets of pivot-holes 54--a, 54-b and 54--c are provided, for the alternative reception of a removable pivot-bolt 55, held in place by the wing nut 56; which bolt 55 extends through a similar hole in the upper end of the piston-rod 25.

By interchanging the position of the bolt 55 between the holes 54-a, 54--b and 54c, the leverage may be varied, so that with the same manual effort (or other force), the amount of pressure obtainable is varied; the hole a, providing the highest pressure, the hole b somewhat lower pressure and hole 0 a still lower pressure.

A central opening 57 is provided in the lid l9, through which the stem of the cap-nut 59 extends and in which it is rotatably disposed. The upper end of the cap-nut 59 is provided with an enlarged head 69 beneath which a washer 6| is placed, and to the upper end of which the handle member 62 is welded as at 63, or otherwise afiixed. A cup-shaped washer 64 is placed over the cap nut 59, and is held in place by a cotter-pin 65, so as to hold the cap-nut 59 rotatably within the central lid-opening 5'! without permitting the cap-nut 59 to change its axial position within said opening.

By turning the handle 62, the cap-nut 59 may be threaded onto, or threaded oif, from the bolt 14, so as screw-threadedly to lock, or so as to unlock, the lid H5 in relation to the cylindrical body I of the container. The upper horizontal portion of the handle member 62 is placed directly beneath the lever arm 49 so that it will act as a lower stop or rest for the lever-arm. The handle also aliords convenient means for lifting the lid oif the container, and when the lid is secured, the handle may be used to lift the entire container.

A side-opening 66 may also be provided in the lid l9 into which the nozzle or coupler 51 at the free end of the hose [6 may be inserted, when the device is not in use as shown in Figure 4. If desired, instead of merely having an opening into which the end of the nozzle coupler can be placed,

a lubricant-receiving fitting-or "nipple, of any of the conventional types; may-be faStened in the hole 66, corresponding to the coupler at the end of the hose, sothat when the 'device'is notin use, the coupler'ma'y be attached to said fitting. This may be of the button-head typefitting, "bayonet type fitting or so-calledpin fitting, or a ball-headed fitting commonly known in the trade as a hydraulic fitting, or any other type of fitting, or may be-ascrew-threaded fitting. Thus any lubricant draining fromthe hose-'15 when not in use will flow backinto the container.

When the container'has been emptied or'substantially'emptied, the handle- 62 is rotated so as to unscrew-the cap nut 59 from the boltl l, th lid I9 is lifted upwardly by means of the handle and, in so doing, the pump-cylinder I8 is slipped upwardly through its loosely retaining straps l6 and I1 and the lid then turned around into the position shown in Figure '7, where the lid and pump will come to rest'wi'thout further attention or without need for further manual support. In this positionthe container may'then be' filled from any source, and when it has been filled the lid may be turned around into alignment with the body of the container and telescoped down over the body, and the cap-nut 59 then tightened onto the bolt M by turning the handle 62 in the opposite direction;

In an alternative form of construction shown in Figures 8 and 9,'the pump cylinder 10 is screwthreadedly or otherwise secured to a cap-like member I I, fastened to the lid l9 bywelding at 24,

and is also slidably retained within the bands l6 and I1.

In this form of construction (Figures 8 and 9) the pump'cylinder I0 is intended for relatively low pressure and-large-volume discharge, and, hence, is'preferably of somewhat'larger diameter.

Within the cylinder H1 a hollow piston-rod 12 isdisposed, which passes freely through the upper opening 13 in the cap, and is, in turn, capped by the movable pump-head"! which is screwthreaded (orotherwise secured) thereto, and which has aside-opening to which the lowpressure hose 86 is secured. The pump-head 14, in turn, is then provided with the pivot portion 14*, for the reception of'the pivot-bolt 55 to connect it with'the lever-arm 49;

The upper end of the cylinder 10 is vented back into the container l by means of one or more openings 11. The lower end of the cylinder 10 is closed off by means of the foot-valve body 18, to the apertured transverse portion 19 of which a disc type valve 80 is loosely secured by the loose pin 81. To the lower end of the hollow tubular piston rod 12, the piston 82 is secured, in sliding fluid-sealing engagement with the cylinder-wall, and is provided with a central inlet opening 83 having the valve-seat 84 adapted to be closed off by a gravity-seated ball check-valve 85.

By reciprocating the lever-arm 49, the grease or lubricant is drawn in past the foot-valve-BU on the up-stroke,-and then is driven past the checkvalve 85 on the down-stroke or compressionstroke out through the movable hollow piston-rod I2 and out through the reciprocatory pump-head l4 and out through the hose 86.

For dispensing grease or lubricant in relatively large volume and at relatively low pressure any suitable discharge nozzle 81 is provided at the free end of the hose 86, as, for instance, for filling gear casings such as transmission or differential casings of automobiles, or the like.

I may press a generally V-shaped or sector-like cylinder, manually-operable reinforcingrib or raised flat portion 89, upwardly a slight distance above the rest of the lid-surface as shown in Figure 9, or I may superimpose a reinforcing-plate (not shown) of the same shape over the lid, to interconnect the pump-receiving off-center opening in the lid and the nut-receiving opening in the center of the lid.

In both forms of theinvention the yoke .9 is so connected with the pump that while rotation and sliding are freely permitted-the pump cannot be completely removed from the container unless the foot-valve housing 34 is first unscrewed. This is important because it prevents the pump from being laid in dirt'and nxixing such dirt with the grease in the container when the pump is subsequently replaced.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A manually-operable pumping dispenser in cluding an upright container open at its top, a lid having 'an opening therethrough offset from the center thereof, said lid having detachable engagement with the container adjacent the top thereof so that said lid normally closes the top of said container, a yoke secured within said container, a pump-cylinder mounted in said offset opening and slidably extending through said yoke, thereby providing means whereby said lid may be detached from said container and pulled off the end thereof and swung about said pump-cylinder as an axis so as to leave the top of the container open to receive a supply of lubricant, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said actuating-means mounted on said lid for reciprocating said piston in said pump-cylinder, and inter-engaging lidsecuring elements mounted on said lid and on said yoke and manually operable from above the lid secured within said housing and having a perforation passing therethrough aligned with the perforation in said lid, a pump-cylinder fixedly secured in the perforation in said lid-and slidably mounted in the perforation in said yoke, a pumppiston mounted for slidable movement in the pump-cylinder, manually-operable actuatingmeans for reciprocating said piston in said cylinder, a connector mounted on said lid and a connector mounted on said housing and adapted for quick attachment to and detachment from one another, and a handle forming part of the connector on said lid and underlying the actuatingmeans for said pump-piston so as to provide a stop for said actuating means at one end of its stroke. 7

3. A lubricant dispenser including a container closed at the top byv a removable lid, means within the container to secure the lid, said securing means comprising a structural member secured a to and extending generally diametrically across said container, a screw-threaded bolt rigidly secured to said structural member and extending generally vertically upward therefrom, and a nut operable from the top side of the lid to engage. with and disengage from said bolt, a force pump passing through the lid at a point near one edge and extending downwardly close to the bottom of the container, said force pump including a piston andhavinganinlet at its lower --end, removable means-to secure theupper end of the force pump tosthelid, a:lever pivotally mounted .on said lid andihaving operative connection with-the piston of theiorcepump, a lubricant hose connected to the; discharge outlet of the'iorce pump,means within the containerand secured'to the inner walls thereof to-coeoperatewiththevlidto hold theiforcexpump against any movementexcept sliding and rotation, said last-mentioned means comprising a slightly oversizedcollar. formed in said structural member and'adapted toencir-cle .said'iorce pump at a pointgenerally intermediate its ends; the assembly of said lid, lever and force pump being constructed and arrangedto be un tarily lifted slightly and swung on-the axis of thepump to expose near-1y theentir-e interior of the acontainer as-for refilling thesame, whenever the lid-securing means has been disconnected.

ell-A lubricant dispenser including-a container, :a removable lid closing the top of the container, :an elongated force pump passing through the lid at a'poin t well removed from the center. and ex- .tendingdownwardly-toward'the bottom of the container, said :force pump having a piston and --tending transversely of the container .andsecured at opposite :ends to the side walls .ofrthe container,

said yoke .having a .pair of parallel slits cut therein and extending longitudinally of the Noise "and. transversely of thecontainer, the material of the yoke which lies between said slits being .bent

.or bowed outwardly in .a direction transverse of the container, and the material of the yoke above and below said slits being bent or bowedoutwardly inra direction 2150 transverse of. the container but :directly opposite to the first-mentioned direction of bending, the 'forcepump passing through the opening :formedby said oppositely bent yoke portions and being rotatably and slid- .ably heldthereby .and .meansior engagingand 1 disengaging said. lid,..sa-id last-mentioned. means .--cnmprising :a :member extending rigidlyupward "from said yoke and-.a movable .member extend- .ing through said lid .and -op.erable .from "the top side of the lid, a cap-nut rotatably and slidably mountedon the lidainsuoh position that it may bethreaded on the stud bolt and being so constructed and arranged that when it is engaged with the studbolt. it will. secure the lid firmlyon the container body,-..a.handle securedto the upper find o the cap-nut and lying in the planeof movement -.of said pivotally mounted piston.- aotilating means sothat downward movement of the latter means is stopped by direct contact with the handle; said handle serving as a lifting handle for thelidasa lid-tightening or loosening meansand Whenthe lidis securedalso serving as a carryinemeans for the entire container.

RUSSELLJ. GRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED' STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 351,538 .S.ims.,.i..., l. qoct. 25, 1885 538,798 Smith. May'l, 1895 15751323 Gray Mar. 18, 193.0 i8 ,'003 .Jaden 5.-., Aug. 30,1932 1,896.44?) Gibson. i.. Feb. 7, .1933 1,922,217 Carsone al--um- A s- 1 1.933 2,172,136 Davis Sept. 5, 193.9 2, 23,553 Davis v.et. al. Dec. 3, 19M) FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,218 Switzerland. W- Feb. 11, 1.893 15,699 Germany Apr. 23, 1881 

